RLA Pastor's blog

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 the apostle Paul commended the church in Thessalonica for their labor of love. The word Paul used for “labor” means more than work. The word speaks of unremitting toil that reduces the strength. But this labor is not laborious because it is inspired by love.

We have just completed our seventh year of the Estero Christmas Celebration. This labor of love included nearly 150 members of the River of Life family. Approximately 1,600 people attended one of the six presentations which resulted in over 30 first time commitments or rededications to Christ. Although the Estero Christmas Celebration requires months of preparation and much sacrifice from those involved, it’s something we do with great joy as a labor of love to the Lord and our community.On another note, a few weeks ago the River of Life family gave a special offering to purchase Fire Bibles. The Fire Bible is the name for the international language editions of the Full Life Study Bible, one of the few Pentecostal study Bibles in existence. Today, pastors and lay workers in Burma, China, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Russia and many other countries have access to this study Bible in their language.

Due to the generous giving of the River of Life family we were able to send a check in the amount of $5,000 to purchase 500 Fire Bibles!

Whether it’s presenting the Estero Christmas Celebration to our community, or giving to provide Fire Bibles for people we will probably never meet this side of eternity, or participating in the monthly Rosemary Outreach, or reaching out to a neighbor with the message of Jesus, it’s all a labor of love done for God’s glory.

Of course, the greatest labor of love was performed by Jesus Christ when He came to earth to accomplish the work of atonement. With that in mind, there is no task we could ever perform for Him that is too great. Motivated by love, let’s continue to joyfully serve the Lord, each other, and those Christ came to save.